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Has anyone ever seen the standard tailgate rubber band not break? If so, how many wraps and what type of jump/gear? Thanks

Break as in snap or break as in release?

Im asking for situations where it didnt come off period

In the field: I have seen tape fail to release once.
I have never seen a rubber band fail to release.

I teach 2 wraps minimum, 3 wraps maximum.
Always use one new tailgate band per jump.

Yes, this will cause you to lose/litter the band.
I chose not to have kids to offset the impact.

All of the standard rubber band tailgate hang ups I've been able to gather reliable information for (over the past 15 years or so):


5 wraps, PCA, did not release before impact (jumper had cleared toggles but was not working them aggressively).

3 wraps, PCA, released when jumper cleared the toggles.

2 wraps and tied to one side, held for several hundred feet of descent with toggles stowed, released when jumper cleared toggles.

3 wraps and tied to one side, did not release before impact (jumper never cleared the toggles).

3 wraps, roll over, cleared when jumper released toggles.

3 wraps, PCA, cleared when jumper released toggles.

3 wraps, tied to one side, cleared after jumper had released toggles and made substantial toggle inputs repeatedly for several hundred feet of descent.

Not as many as I expected, that had been tied to one side

What do you guys think about using Painter's tape instead of a classic tailgate?

How many wraps of tape would you recommend?

Cheap, Beige "masking" tape is not recommended.
When it gets wet (even sweat) it does not break!!

Blue or Green tape do not leave residue on lines,
and their breaking strength is more consistent.

I personally use the very thin green tape since I can
use as little or as much as I need for that pack job.

^Lets be honest, you just use it because it's green.

It sure started out that way

Years later there are real reason for it:
Blue tape is wider and is lower quality.

Green tape is thinner so I can use as
little or as much as needed, as in:

- slider-OFF static line jump, minimal
- slider-OFF 3 second delay, much more
- slider-UP from 876', again minimal
- slider-UP from a plane, a lot more

Also the number of hours or days that
painter's tape is rated for before the
sticky residue is left varies by color.

Green costs more because it is better!

Sorry to be the newbie that asks what's probably a dumb question:

Tom, when you say "tied to one side" I completely understand. But when "tied to one side" is NOT indicated, how is the tailgate rubber band set up?

I only have 30 jumps, and only from the bridge but was taught to larks-head the band to one side of the finger-trapped tailgate then proceed with wraps (number is clearly the question at hand).

Or perhaps the lines in said incidents didn't have a tailgate "installed" in a finger-trap setup and the practice was to larks-head the rubber band around a C-line?

Sorry - hopefully more info is better than not asking.